From iPads to Kindle Fires: Which Tablet Is Best For You? - Wall Street Journal (blog)

By Matthew Lynley

There are a lot of tablets on the market now.

When looking to buy a tablet as a gift, the answer won't always be the iPad. Some are cheap, some are very expensive. But price isn't the only thing that matters.

Below we break down the specific advantages of various tablets based on prices and features.

If you want the cheapest tablet…

A number of tablets cost less than $200. In the 7-inch display range, there are two that stand out.

Nexus 7: This Google tablet runs the Android operating system and features apps available to the Android ecosystem, which is plenty massive. On top of that, it's a solidly built tablet and features 16 gigabytes of space — which is plenty of room for apps and a few movies. Starting at $199, the Nexus 7 runs Jelly Bean, a new version of Android's operating system, that is quite fast and is widely praised.

Kindle Fire HD: Google's Android operating system powers Amazon's $199 tablet as well, but it's what is called a "forked" operating system that, at this point, is basically Amazon's own beast. In addition to tapping into a wide variety of apps, the Kindle Fire HD comes plugged into Amazon's content, which includes streaming movies and lots of other goodies. If you are already a big fan of Amazon Prime, this is the tablet to get.

When looking for tablets that are larger than 7 inches, but still won't kill your bank account, there are two to consider.

Kindle Fire HD, tall-boy version: Amazon's larger Kindle Fire HD, which has a screen that's 8.9-inches long diagonally with 16 gigabytes of space, costs $299. It's not quite as big as the iPad 2, which will cost you $399, but is a bit cheaper and also taps into Amazon's Prime ecosystem.

Nook HD+: Barnes and Noble's larger tablet is cheaper than the Kindle Fire HD at $269, and also comes with a 9-inch screen. The Nook HD+ also runs Google's Android operating system. It's one of the cheapest large tablets on the market.

If you want the best screen for reading or viewing…

The tablet's resolution determines its screen's clarity and crispness. There are two tablets that have the best screens — though they are among the most expensive.

iPad 4th-generation: Apple's iPad was here first, so it's still among the best — the new fourth-generation iPad sports a "retina" screen that has a 2048-by-1536 pixel resolution, giving it one of the best-looking screens on the market. It's also pricey, coming in at $499 for the base-level model, but you will have access to all of Apple's apps.

Nexus 10: Google's partners crammed about as many pixels into the screen of the Nexus 10 as possible, clocking in at a 2560-by-1600 pixel resolution. On top of that, you get access to Google's app ecosystem and the tablet costs $399, compared to the fourth-generation iPad's $499.

If you already own a smartphone…

If you have an iPhone, odds are you've already purchased a lot of apps for the iPhone. Those apps will also (usually) work fine on your tablet, unless there is an iPad-specific version.

iPad Mini: Many consider the iPad Mini to actually be Apple's best tablet. The 7.9-inch screen's resolution is equivalent to the iPad 2, and the apps scale well to the screen. The Mini is a premium over the other cheaper tablets in the market starting at $329, but you get about an extra inch of screen space and access to Apple's massive tablet ecosystem.

If you own an iPhone or iPad already and have the cash to burn, upgrade to an iPad fourth-generation, or wait until the next generation of iPads comes out.

If you own an Android smartphone, it might still be prudent to consider an iPad or a Kindle Fire, because the tablet ecosystem on Android isn't as well fleshed out as it is on Apple's App Store, which boasts a number of tablet-specific apps.

If you're feeling bold…

Microsoft now also has its own breed of home-built tablets. Among the other tablets running Windows 8, the Surface rates with the best of them — but it just might not be enough.

Surface RT: A number of top tech enthusiasts have spent time with Microsoft's device, and so far, there seems to be a common trend: great hardware, not-so-great software. But software can, eventually, become great — as seen with Google's Android ecosystem. The Microsoft Surface is a very well-built piece of hardware and comes with a keyboard attachment that's a step forward, but is lacking in apps. It does come with Office, which is one of the best productivity suites on the market, but there are a lot of equivalents on other app stores. The price is also steep in this category, starting at $499.

Surface with Windows Pro: Microsof't's high-end tablet comes out in January and will support Windows apps in addition to being a lot like the Microsoft Surface with Windows RT. Starting at $899, it will be among the most expensive tablets in the market, but it's also more designed to be a laptop-killer/replacement than an actual iPad killer. The verdict is out on this one, but if you are patient the hardware might actually end up being a significant step above your usual Windows laptop.

How they stack up on price

The following table includes introductory-level tablet prices, which rise quickly as you add more space and wireless connectivity to the devices.

Often times, it isn't more bang for your buck when buying a tablet — and it's going to highly depend on which app ecosystem you've already invested in.